NCAA teams brace for tougher second round in men’s basketball
Top seed St. Benilde Blazers during the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament. –NCAA/GMA PHOTO
If the first round of action in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament was any indication, teams brace for a tougher battle in the last round of the eliminations.
With their respective teams emerging as the top two seeds at the end of round 1, both coaches Charles Tiu of College of St. Benilde and Yuri Escueta of San Beda are looking for a better showing, especially with the Final Four race about to take shape.
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“I still think it’s very shaky to be honest, I would have wanted to end with one or zero losses if possible. We were there every game even our losses that we collapsed kami in the end,” said Tiu, whose Blazers ended up with the best record in the first half of the eliminations with a 7-2 card.
READ: NCAA 100: San Beda beats Mapua in OT for third straight win
“We could have been easily 9-0 but its part of basketball.”
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“we haven’t accomplished anything yet so we have to make sure to stay sharp in the second round when it matters,” he added.
San Beda, meanwhile, took the No. 2 seed after finishing tied for it with Mapua and Letran with 6-3 slates.
“We still have a lot to fix, but we’re getting there and hopefully after nine games, naka adjust na sa NCAA type of game and atmosphere,” said Escueta.
Based on the first round results, there was no doubt that anybody could beat anybody.
READ: NCAA: San Beda leans on defense to repeat over Mapua
Even the Blazers and the Red Lions felt the brunt of parity in the league with both losing to vastly improved Arellano, a team near the bottom of the standings with a 3-6 card.
Even the last-placed team, San Sebastian, pulled off its only two victories at the expense of Final Four contenders Letran (6-3) and Lyceum (4-5).
That is why EAC coach Jerson Cabiltes, whose squad owns a 4-5 mark including a giant-sized win over San Beda, remains confident his team still in the hunt for the Final Four.
“This win was really important for us because it gave us a fighting chance, said Cabiltes referring to its 97-80 win over San Sebastian Tuesday.
